A Memorandum to the Secretary, the Department of
the Interior, dated 7 August 1942 indicated that Requisition No. D.W.B. 86/42-43
detailed the following works to be built for the Royal Navy and the United
States Navy:-

A parent aerodrome and four (4) dispersal
fields in the Fremantle area, with hard surfaced runways and aircraft
dispersal facilities at each site, together with Building and Engineering
Services, in accordance with Plans and Schedules to be supplied, at an
estimated cost of £210,000; the work being Priority A.1. Item 1658.

Middle Swan was to be the parent airfield with
the following satellite airfields:-

Beverley
Bindoon
Gin Gin North
Mooliabeenee

A Memorandum to the Commander Aircraft, 7th
Fleet, US Navy Headquarters, Grace Building, York Street, Sydney dated 3 April
1944, advised the following progress with the construction of a Fleet Air Arm
Base in the Fremantle area at Middle Swan:-

On about 15 May 1944, Western Area Headquarters
advised that RAAF Headquarters had approved:-

"use of Middle Swan airfield by the United
States Army Air Corps until required for other operational purposes. AOC has
requested immediate provision water supply 750 personnel estimated cost 500
Pounds and provision hard standing 200 feet by 150 feet, cost 200 Pounds."

In later years after the war, it became known as
Caversham Airfield.

The Western Australia Sporting
Car Club (WASCC) held the Victory Grand Prix on a makeshift circuit at Middle
Swan airfield on 7 April 1946. It was attended by 60,000 people. In 1956 the
WASCC obtained a lease for Caversham, which was then converted into a permanent
track. The aircraft parking bays were connected by sealed track to become part
of the racing circuit.

The Australian Grand Prix was
held at Caversham in 1962. This was the same year as the British Commonwealth
Empire Games which were held in Perth. The track was resume by the Commonwealth
and handed over to the Department of Army in about 1968.

The remains of the old Middle Swan Airfield will
soon disappear as it is apparently destined to become a housing estate.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Simon Somogyi for his
assistance with this web page.